The Woman had once been supreme; in France she still seemed potent, not merely as a sentiment but as a force; why was she unknown ...in America? for evidently America was ashamed of her, and she was ashamed of herself, otherwise they would not have strewn fig-leaves so profusely all over her. When she was a true force, she was ignorant of fig-leaves, but the monthly-magazine-made American female had not a feature that would have been recognized by Adam. The trait was notorious, and often humorous, but anyone brought up among Puritans knew that sex was sin. In any previous age, sex was strength.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

As a father I had some trouble finding the words to separate the person from the deed. Usually, when one of my sons broke the rule...s or a window, I was too angry to speak calmly and objectively. My own solution was to express my feelings, but in an exaggerated, humorous way: "You do that again and you will be grounded so long they will call you Rip Van Winkle II," or "If I hear that word again, I'm going to braid your tongue."LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

I have often been downcast, but never in despair; I regard our hiding as a dangerous adventure, romantic and interesting at the sa...me time. In my diary I treat all the privations as amusing. I have made up my mind now to lead a different life from other girls and, later on, different from ordinary housewives. My start has been so very full of interest, and that is the sole reason why I have to laugh at the humorous side of the most dangerous moments.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »

We admire Chaucer for his sturdy English wit.... But though it is full of good sense and humanity, it is not transcendent poetry. ...For picturesque description of persons it is, perhaps, without a parallel in English poetry; yet it is essentially humorous, as the loftiest genius never is.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »